I am enjoying the character development as well as the setting details- I can visualize each scene!  I pick up on little details such as the yellow spring  flowers( forsythias) - spring a time of rebirth and the falling of the forsythia leaves next to the birthday cake for Marshall in Penelope’s bakery, and  what seasons certain flowers  are alive as Penelope considers her wedding bouquet for her summer wedding.  So much is mentioned about time, life, death, and also natural states of things as contrasted to controlled fixed state of things.  A feeling of expiration hangs as a mist over many decisions being made. 

Chapter 7 gave me even more of an insight into Marshall’s character.   Just when Marshall reflects on the restrictions of his condition and the definitive lives drawn for his day to day routine life- he begins to think “ of coloring outside the box.” With the ever impending number of DoD, and the boundaries limiting him in his communication with others, Marshall begins to reconsider his boundaries and move into a different territory- a rather daring and unknown territory for him as he is attracted to The Most Beautiful Woman in the World.  He imagines what life would be like for him without his present day restrictions or rather differences.   Just when most attention is placed on endings and finite boundaries and preparation for this constant reminder of DoD, Marshall engages in his own perception of an awakening of a different or new life, even if only momentary in that restaurant!

This novel already encourages reflective ideas.  I sense Marshall’s practicality and yearning for normalcy vs. control and prediction.   He